Convertible car body



Aug. 12, 1 930.

F. LPEZ-osoRlo CONVERTIBLE QAR BODY Filed March' so, 192e s sheets-sheet 1 hun.

Flay.

Fe'hx Mpeg, @who INVENTOR 54 ATTORNEY Aug. l2, 1 930.. F. LPEZ-asomo 1172372 CONVERTIBLE CAR BODY Filed arch so, 192s s shuts-shui. 2

u Fmvnr Feux Lpe Osama;

I Nv'ENToR ATTORNEY Aug; 12, 1930. F. LPEz-osomo cquvsmim CAR .BowV

Filed waren so. 192s s slnuts-snet s FuLXII INVENTOR ATTORNEY;

Aug. 12, 19311.y 1 -...6Pazpsmo 1.772.672

l couvnnTILs cAn nom! Filed march 50.1923 snntssnnz- 4 v Flam.

- Feux Luse;7 @sono mvENToR t; ATTORNEY -AMI' 12, 193,0-l F. LPEZ-OSORIO 1,772,572

CONVERTIBLE GAR BODY Filed'uarch so, 192s s sheets-sheet s Flix 1.6925 OQrO v INVENTOR f ab ATTORNEY Aug. l2, 1930. F. LPEZ-OSORIO A coNvERTIBLE GAR Bom' Filed March 30,' 19213 6 Sheets- Sheet 6 Fhi Lpeg, @50m2 v INVENTOR in ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 12, 1930 y UNITED STATES@ vlmdnlsfla'l OFFICE-- lFLIX LPEZOSoBIQ; or BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA CONVERTIBLE can BODY A'ppliction-ledflarch 30, 1928*. Serial No. 266,014.

The. object of the `present. invention isithe construction of a convertible' V- type of cark device are constructed precisely `with the same elements as thosek nowused for closed bodies. Y The transformation can be done in less time than that now required to. close a car body of the double phaeton? type and much less effort is required. i f i i To makethis description clearer, drawings as detailed below, are added. j n

Figures l and 2 show front elevations ref. spectively, an open and a closedicoachbody; Figure 3 Vshows themannerinfwhich the lateral swings which supportthe rooffarel retained. i I u 1. i

A Figure 4 is ahorizontalpsection through the swing fasteningomeans. i

- Figure 5 showsin dotted, tionsawhich. the swing'szand the longitudinal bea-ms take in their mounted and unmounted positions. y i fz i Figures 6 and 7- show. the retentionsystem between the longitudinalbeams of the,` roof and the swings. y Y l {y} f 1 Figure 8 shows thefpossibility .ojusing three. pivoted extensionsin such a way as to be able to bring by asingle arcuate {Inovement, thebeam toits correspondingfposition.

Figure 9 shows the 'mounted'. roofland'the position which the" swings andV the roofing cloth take in their mounted andunmounted position.

Figure'lf) shows the union between the swings and the roof'seen from theinterior of the coach. A i Y Figure' l1 shows the manner in ywhichthe rear panel and the side panels are kept.

` Figure 12 represents the manner in which the rear panel and the side panels `are un# folded and mounted. i l

Figure 13 shows one of the ways in which the roofing cloth is attached to the rear panel,

Figure 14 shows a Variationin the construct-ion of the rear part andthe side parts by means of a rigid transversalbeam and a cloth band. i i N Figure l5 shows the door, divided into two parts, in which the upper door case can be withdrawn and kept under the seat.

Figurejlrepresents a mountedffdouble .s

phaeton sedan?v,wliere the position is shown which the longitudinal beams take in the cavity of the footy board.

Figure 17`represents the ydouble frame or high part of the doors which can b e folded so as tobe kept in the mentioned space.

Figure :18 vrepresents various of the transformations'which', through this-body system. the voiturette typecan assume.

Figure 19: shows a transformable voiturettefk body type, in accordance with this invention. i f

Figure 20 is a horizontal section of the foreinentioned type.

`'Figure 21 yrepresents a variation in the py l i form 'of mounting the longitudinal beams of lines, the posi'-V the roof. i Figure 22 is a variation in the"` form of retaining theswings. Figure 23 is a detail `of the form in which the longitudinalV beams and the frame for the cabriolet type are combined.

Figure 24 represents the space formed be? Vtween'the body and the toot board for keeping the iront trame. i e

Elments." @auch type bar called a swing, `with its two ends secured to the ycounterfralne Vof the doors by two hinges l and 2', Figure 3.

The two vertical sections of this swing re-l pose against the counterframev in channels specially provided forjthis purpose,'and they pass in their swing, an arc which is adequately cut, so that the horizontal section 3-4 remains* beneath this', in the` free space Vwhich Rooi-This consists in a bail shaped iron Y exists between the body and the foot board.

When the door is placed and closed, it willl cover the vertical parts of the swing with the llange 5, Figure 4, into which the lock bolt will fit.

The door, whenentirely open, will permit the swing to turn on its hinges and move uplwards so as to remain in the position w ich, correlatively on the other side of the coach, is indicated by {ia-4, Figure 3, where it will be kept in place by a simple spring latch which exists at the upper end of the windshield rods.

` In the free space left between the body and the foot board and along the whole length of this, exists a box 6, Figures 5 and 9, having a cover 7, Figure9, which opens by means of spring hinges placed in its interior part.

Into said box the longitudinal beam b, Figure 5, will be put. This is constructed of wood whichy is secured to the horizontal rod of the swing, being embedded like a rail, as will be seen from the sectional cut in Figure 6, in which the swing rod forms the rail or male part 9, and the beam the railbed, or female part 10. This railbed must be made of iron and fixed to the beam by screws like 11.` Y

When the swing is moved upwards, it will carry with it as already indicated, the longitudinal beam, which when pushed upon the rail, Vwill take the position which is shown in Figure 5.

To get itinto this position, three small movable extensions can be used as `indicated in Figure 8. l In this case, the rail embedded part of Figure 6 must have a form of construction which makes it detachable.

The longitudinal beam of which we speak, has at the outside of the coach and at its inside, all the features of those which nowadays are used for the construction of rigid roofs, viz moulding or drainage for rain and channeling for the shutting of the doors.

At the external upper part 12, Figure 6,

the cloth or leather which forms the roof,

y will be in the usual way firmly attached, and

will have attached to it the longitudinal beam which belongs to the other side. This will be rolled up invsaid cloth 8, Figure 9, and lwill come together withthe beam 8 from the To mount the roof, it will be suilicient to unwind the cloth or leather and vmove 8a to 8, Figure 9, where it will meet the swing raised on the other side of the coach, to which it will be fixed by means of the socket 13, Figure 10, and the screw or lug 14, Figure 7. (See also the same numbers-in Figure 10).

The stretching of the cloth or leather can be obtained by the spacing of the swings for by means of one or more steel bands which may have -awidth of three or four centimeters,` athickness of a millimeter and a length which covers the distance between both beams. These bands will be placed along the beam in a groove, formed 1n the Wood by a simple saw cut, see 15, Figure 7, and each at one of its ends it will have a small screw axle so as to enable it to open like a knife blade and allow its other' end to be inserted in the groove oi the opposed beam.

The greater or smaller inclination of these wood cuts and the length of the steel band will determine the bend of the roof and its stretching.

Hind `panel and side panda- Once the roof is mounted, the rear part of the coach and the adjoining side panels remain to be closed.

Incoaches in which their price permits it, a rigid construction in metallic sheets will be used and this will consist in a rear panel and two side panels which have the same features as those nowadays used for closed coaches.

The rear panel 16, Figure 11, carrying with it the side panels 17 and 17 which are folded upon it, will be raised by rails from a box which is located, as shown in the figure, betweenthe back 4of the seat and the linal end of the body. The raising can be done by a system of handles as those in use for the door windows.

The panels will then open each on one side, for whlch purpose each one will use the system of hinges 18 and 19,.Figure 12, which are relatively compact and simple. A

The separation line between the rear panel and the side panels with the sheet part which forms the'curve, will be protected agains wind and rain throu h the flanges 20 and 20". This last one wil lean upon the male rail through which the whole system comes from the box in which it is kept.

The lupper back of the side'panels will have male rails like 9 Figure 6, and 13, Figure 7, which also can be noticed in Figure 11.

Although this part of the body is described in second term, 1t must be mounted atV first, so that the longitudinal beams which are mounted afterwards, embrace the sidef panels, one of them when running upon its rail and the other one when dropping upon the opposed swingand the corresponding beam.

The sidepanels can have 1n their lower part also small mouldings or flanges to attach them to the body, so as to avoidthe passage of wind and rain.

' They also can be provided with windows which can be let down by a toothed bar which enters into the body where its construe tion permits this.

The rear panel will have tapestry on its interior side and will have a window glass. It also will have a moulding 21, Figure 11, at' its upper' external part which will form a continuation of the same line of the mouldings of the longitudinal beams.

- with the same cloth or leathe swam The rounded` end of the f longitudinal beams serves the purpose thatv theA clothi'or leather which is secured to'them',;places:itself like a hat upon the equally roundedpartof their existence, imitating the form of the.y

moulding itself, Figure 13." f f In the coaches'of economical construction all the costof the rearbox,"the embedding and the rigid framecan be avoided, retaining only the transverse beam 22, Figure 14,-

which unitesthe endsf of the rlongitudinal beams, to which it is attached by means-of a square bolt pin 22a at one 'end and a fixed nipple of same shape atthe otherone. y

Said transversal beam holdsattached to it, a piece of cloth or leather in theshape shown in the drawing, Figure 14, so as' to permit it to be buttoned to the borders'of the parts which areto be covered. The window could be `of flexible'4 mica. Y

To store the whole system, it can' beextended so-as to form one'flat sheet and it can be rolled up with the transversal part 22 to be broughtL intothev box 6**,Figure 9. f

Dooren-The door will be exactly equal to' and will :have the-same features fas fthose used nowadaysffor closed coaches', but-it will be divided into two-section's'as shown in Figure'15. 1 Y

The joint will befhiddenbehind theksmall flange 23.

When the glass has been lowered',

Vframe 24 canv easily bev'separated by an;up-

ward movement, because it has'. as fixing points, onlythe nipples 25v and 25fand .the male hinge 26which can." be raisedor lowered. by a` spring so as toLk engagea female hinge or separate fromit, tliislatter one beingplaced ata convenientpart of the longitudinal beam The frame is kept'in thel box? which exists 'l beneath the seat 27, 'Figure 3, and this box opens against the front part which is visible and whichY can be concealed-by a simple hanging curtain made of cardboard-and covered used for theinterior' tapestry.

,Douible phaet'on sedan, type.M (Long chassis) For this model the same elements as for the coach type are used, with the only difference that the swings are of greater size, comprising the two doors asf-indicated bythe position of Figure 16. Both doors open upon the same hinge axle, and their respective frames'as' shown in Figure 17,-fcan4 -fold'one u-ponthe other to' be'kept' ini the beforemen-` tioned" box.l f 4 Y When the swing is raised, the doors are l-lalfopeir.` l

the swings, "soY asto remain alone r which has been lcita/rette type;l (Two permanent seat-s' and two* more foldabley ones) i `The application of the invention to this type of coach will permit commodities and perspectives which up to now, couldV not be imagined. It will ybeat the same time,the

most original transformationwhich acar Abody ywill havel undergone. See in A, B, C

and -Do'f "Figure 18, the four different aspects which the same coach can show. Y

` The voiturette is constructed with four doors, with hinges at the axle lines28 and `29igure 19so that when open, they allow the upward' movement of the swing through their vertical parts 1 3 and 2-4, whereby, and following the same proceeding already indicated `,for the previous1 models, the roof of the permanent seats at 3-4 will be formed.

Other roofQ-The fixing ofthe longitudinal1 beams to the horizontal, rods of the swings isefected at both sidesk without rail embedding, Yby the system of nipples 13, Figures 7 and '10, so kthat they and their cloth,vi`z the whole roof, can be detached com'p'leteliy'f` from. within? the box 6, vFigure 19. v i

When v this detachment is effected, the

kvswings of both sidescanbe raised-'quite free,v

as 6,"Figure19, whichexists at the opposite side.

From therear end of the longitudinal beams of this secondA roof extend two small rodsV which can be a-dju'stedto theback'of the Vrear seat, and can be unfoldedy by meansof a hinge at'30.

Lateral @daagse-The lateralI and rear locking isl effected Y 1. 'For the smallfroof with framesisimilar to those described' for the previous models and they are placed upon the doors at 31 9" and 31a, Figure r20, which hold adhered to them clothorleather panels Vfor closingt'he sides and the curve upto the place indicated in the figure. The rear panelis formed with the roof itself which has an extension which,j

drops behind like ya tailor a curtain.

2- For the long -roof the same-elements are" i used, but other lframes/at 31b andl31c'with their respective adhered panels., which at their end are hooked tothe movable back of the rear seats. f Y

The frames h'afve in sector, (Figure 17, right sideframe),`t`o complete the-square of the glasses Whichmount Y from 'the rear doors.

The longro'ofhas theV same as the short v one, a small tail for'hooking itto theback of one'v of the interior langles a small fixed glass, in the formv of a rac theinterior, the vizor 32, Figures 19 and 20, which completes the closing of the tail of the voiturette, when the-rear seats are not in position of use, must when Athe doors are o ened, drop into the inner art, turning t ereby upon their hinges which are fixed to the back of the front seat.

The advantages of the system in its special Double phaeton Vsedan/l tft/pe. (Short economical chassis) The short chassis does not permit that the two rear doors have a square shape, as they generally reach over the curve of the mudguard and assume its conformation: This also revents the swing from covering the two oors.

`To eleminate this obstacle, theswing can be constructed exclusively upon the counterframe of the vfront doors, as in the coach type, but tocreate a really economical type which through its very reduced cost, facilitates economical competition in the sale of cars, we alter the system, suppressing for thls type numerous details, so that it remains reduced to the following: 1--The longitudinal beam 33, Figure 21, forms a single piece with the vertical rod 34, which is attached to it in a ri id unmovable shape by its angle 35, being solidly screwed on.

The beam is attached to the windshield throughga nipple on the latter and a nippleshield screw on the former and to the body at point 36. p

2-A second beam of same shape at the opposite side with its corresponding vertical rod, which differs from the prevlous one 1nasmuch as it can be folded over thevbeam by means of a hinge at 37.

A Once this rod is folded over the beam, this latter one can be rolled up over the leather or'cloth of the roof in the same way as the already described models, until reaching the beam 33, which is removed by an upward movement as soon as the nipple shield screw which fastensf it lto the windshield is unscrewed.

To keep the whole system in the box 6, care must be taken to get at first the rod 34 into the opening 38 in the bottom of the box. This opening is the mouth of a tube placed transversally to the chassis and wherein said rod will remain protected against oxidation and dirt.

The other elements of the body are the usual Y,ones for the previously described models, principally the very economical one which is shown in Figure 14.

Coupe cabriolet` type One of the vertical rods'of the swing is hidden in the channel of the counterframe of the rear door, and the other one in the counterframe at the front part which corresponds to the door of the driver, Figure 22.

. To raise it, it is necessary to move it at first along the side by means of the horizontal rod 39 which is at the same time its axle and which projects into the thickness of the anel;y and of another rod 40 fixed to the ody over which the other end of the swing runs and turns.

Once raised, the swing is moved back to reach again the channels, so as to remain in the position 41.

The longitudinal beams are cut short, thereby leaving the angle of the swing free, see 42, Figures 22 and 23, so as to leave a passage for a similar frame to the one described for the doors 44, Figure `23, which, when it drops upon the back of the drivers seat, will grasp the two` swings and follow the rails 43.

This frame forms the front of the cabriolet and has a frontispiece upon which the leather of the roof will be put and attached; it completes the form of the longitudinal beams which, due to it, will not reach to the front, and it also has the necessary channels y for the shutting of the door and a groove along which will raise the window which proceeds from the back of the drivers seat. The frame is kept in the box 6, Figure 24. Should the interior mechanism of the chassis impede or give the box its necessary dimension, then the frame might be constructed without its interior wood, 44, Figure 23, so that its supports pass through the bottom piece of the box in a similar way to the one described for the fixed rod of the economical double phaeton model.

The other closing elements are the same as for the previous models.

In the appended claims, the term a convertible automobile is intended to designate an automobile of any ordinary design that is capable of being converted into an automobile having the same outward appearance and characteristics of another ordinary design. Y

I claim:

1. A convertible automobile comprising in combination, an open car, the elements of a back and sides of a closed top slidably mounted in the body of said car, means to retain said elements in elevated position, a bail shaped member swingably mounted on each side of said car, a longitudinally movable bar mounted on the cross bar of each bail `shaped member, the elements of a roof mounted on one of said bars, and means on each of sald bars to embraceand hold said side elements in elevated position When it is moved longitudinally. Y

2. A convertible automobile comprising in combination, an open car, the elements of a back and sides of a closed top slidably mounted in the body of said car, means to retain said elements in elevated position, a bail shaped* member swngably mounted on each side of said car, a longitudinally movable bar mounted on the cross bar of each bail shaped member, the elements of a roof mounted on one of said bars, means on each 'of said bars to embrace and hold said side elements in elevated position when it is moved longitudinally, and compartments 'in said car to conceal all the aforesaid elements when not in use.

FLIX LPEZ-OSORIO. 

